Writers and Authors pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,910 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Chattanooga earn between $45,570 and $76,300.
- $34K10th
- $46K25th
- $61KMedian
- $76K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,470 | $5,456 | $31.48 |
| Median | $61,400 | $5,117 | $29.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,570 | $3,798 | $21.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,300 | $6,358 | $36.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($66,180) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $65,470 | $61,400 | $33,590 | $100,910 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $66,180 | $58,870 | $38,720 | $100,910 | 1,260 |
| United States | $86,090 | $76,910 | $44,310 | $139,870 | 47,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Writers and Authors salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $65,470, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $54,785 a year, or $4,565 a month and $2,107 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $54,785 | $4,565 |
| Working in GA | $52,267 | $4,356 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $65,470 buys what about $71,580 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($77,230).
Highest-paying cities for writers and authors
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($186,370).
- Waterbury, CT$186,370
- San Jose, CA$120,540
- Washington, DC$118,070
- Santa Rosa, CA$113,000
- Bridgeport, CT$111,590
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Writers and Authors salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Chattanooga?
$31.48 an hour on average, and $29.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $54,785 a year ($4,565 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,470. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do writers and authors earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($86,090).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3043; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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